JakartaPost-Apr 8, 2025
President Prabowo Subianto said on Monday that Jakarta would “remain calm” and use diplomacy to address the tariffs imposed by United States President Donald Trump, as Indonesia wants an equal relationship with the US. “We will negotiate with all countries, including the US. We will express [to Washington] that we want a good, fair and equal relationship that is reciprocal,” Prabowo said in a livestream of a visit to West Java. He acknowledged that Washington was only acting in the interests of its people. Jakarta’s plan to negotiate, he suggested, was similarly a form of Indonesia prioritizing its own people. “So there is no need for disappointment or worries. We must believe in our own strength and that we can face any challenges gallantly and steadfastly,” he added. Prabowo’s statement came just one day after Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto announced that the government would not retaliate against the 32 percent tariff imposed by Trump on Southeast Asia’s largest economy and would instead pursue negotiations to find mutually beneficial solutions. Included in Indonesia’s diplomacy-first response to Washington was Prabowo’s brief visit to Putrajaya on Sunday to discuss with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim how the US’ sweeping tariffs are affecting ASEAN countries. Last week, a day after Washington’s announcement of the so-called “reciprocal tariffs”, Prabowo, Anwar and the leaders of Brunei, Singapore and the Philippines discussed the possibility of issuing an ASEAN regional response that will uphold the principles of fairness and equity in all trade negotiations. Six out of the 10 ASEAN members listed in the White House announcement have been hit with tariff levels of between 32 and 49 percent.
Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/world/2025/04/08/prabowo-chooses-diplomacy-over-retaliation-against-us-tariff.html.
